PIA has been slapped with a massive fine for leaving passengers’ luggage in Saudi Arabia. It has been fined 72,000 Saudi Riyals or Rs2.97 million. Saudi Ground Services fined PIA 1,000 Riyal per container of luggage. Most recently, PIA left the luggage for the Islamabad-bound PK-754 and Lahore-bound PK-725 in Riyadh. This isn’t the first time PIA has left its luggage in Saudi Arabia.
Iran, days after the incident has admitted that it unintentionally shot down the Ukrainian plane which crashed with 180 people aboard in Tehran with no survivors. Soon after the crash, US and Canadian officials had accused Iran of shooting down the plane while Iranian authorities denied the allegations.Ukraine had also temporarily banned its flight operations to Iran.
The Pakistan Stock Exchange was on its way to a recovery on Thursday after two days of equity loss due to tensions in the region. The benchmark KSE-100 had lost over 1,000 points in the aftermath of the Iranian general Qasem Soleimani assassination. Since Trump gave the impression that he did not want war, the panic has somewhat vanished and people are returning to the equity market, according to senior equity analyst Raza Jafri.
In violation of the Punjab government’s regulations, a wedding event was held in the over 400-year-old royal kitchen in the Lahore Fort. The incident was first reported on Twitter, where pictures from the mehindi event were uploaded, triggering a public outcry. The Fort has been recognized by the UNESCO as an endangered monument and has been listed as a World Heritage Site in Danger.
Unidentified planes struck targets in Syria near the border with Iraq on Friday, killing eight Iran-backed Iraqi militiamen. This is an attack that comes amid soaring tensions between the US and Iran according to Syrian activists and Iraqi officials. An Iraqi security official said warplanes targeted two vehicles carrying missiles on the Syrian side of the border.
A renowned Pakistani scientist Atta-Ur-Rehman had been honored with the International China Science and Technology Cooperation award on 7th January. Dr. Rehman is the first Pakistani scientist to have received this award. Before this, the awardees include Japan, UK, India, and the USA, etc. Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman, is one of the most state-of-the-art scientists of Pakistan.
Rosie Gabrielle, a solo Canadian traveller who visited Pakistan and spent time exploring the country, converts to Islam. The travel blogger praised Pakistan and its people who helped her get rid of the pain she has been going through for years and fulfill her desire to be free.
Punjab authorities decide the fares of Orange Line train, Metro and Speedo buses. As per the reports, a meeting was held, in which Punjab’s Mass Transit Transport Authority decided the fares. Sources said that under the suggestions, the fare for the OLMT will be up to Rs. 40-50, and in case of Metro and Speedo it will be retained at Rs. 30.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has tasked Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi with visiting Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United States, in an attempt to help de-escalate the Middle East situation. He also asked General Qamar Javed Bajwa “to contact relevant military leaders to convey a clear message: Pakistan is ready to play its role for peace but it can never again be [a] part of any war.”
The Pakistan Stock Exchange shrinks after Iran’s General Qassem Soleimani’s assassination on US President Trump’s orders. It lost over 800 points to slip below the 42,000-point level—that it had managed to maintain after 15 months. By midday, the KSE-100 dropped to 41,480 points with all top active scrips, including K-Electric and the Bank of Punjab, heading downward in their share prices.